Page 58 of Her Elusive Cowboy Billionaire

Marco curled his lip, his gun pointed at Chase.“Paige got cold feet and decided to end our relationships, both personal and professional.I couldn’t let that happen.She knew too much.”

“She wouldn’t have said anything to anyone but her diary.We gave the diary to the police.They’ll find you, and it’s got enough information to put you away for good.”

Marco stepped forward, his gun never wavering.

Without his gun, Chase was trapped.Lying about the diary was the only out he had and that was suspect.They’d brought the diary with them, but Marco couldn’t know that.

“You’re lying.Nothing she could have said in the diary would have incriminated me.She didn’t know enough.”

“She knew you were using her as a mule.She wrote it all down.Dates, times and locations.Everything except where to find you.”

“I’m not stupid.Did you think Paige was the only woman I had working for me or who thought we werespecial?She wanted to leave me for you.”He shook his head.“Just because you have money.I have money, too.Not as much as you, but plenty to keep her happy, but she didn’t know that or she wouldn’t have left me.”

Meri was happy now that her father had her get a gun and know how to use it.She kept it in the cupboard behind the salad plates.Somewhere no one, especially her nieces and nephews, would ever think to look.She gingerly pulled it from its hiding place, making no noise, and tiptoed back to the foyer, but didn’t enter.

Chase saw her and gave her a signal that he would drop to the floor.He stepped closer to Marco.“You’re just a little man and she finally realized what a real man is.She wanted me because she knew I’m a real man.”

Marco narrowed his eyes and balled his hand into a fist, and hit Chase with a left hook.

As he’d indicated to Meri, he dropped like a stone.

“Drop your weapon,” shouted Meri as she stepped out of the kitchen.

Marco aimed his gun at Chase’s head.

A shot rang out and Marco staggered back against the door.His left hand went to his chest and pulled back, covered in blood.“No.This can’t happen.You’re—” His gun dropped from his right hand, and his knees collapsed as he fell to the floor.

Meri knew from his eyes that he was dead, but she still didn’t go near him.Instead, she scooted farther into the living room, never taking her gaze from his body.

Then Chase was there.He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.“It’s okay.We’re safe now.He’s dead.He can’t harm us anymore.”

Meri buried her face in his chest, unable to look at Marco’s body any longer.

Chase took the gun from her and held her for a few minutes.

He pulled away.“We need to call the police.”He continued to hold her close.“Shhhh.”

Her body still shook.

He rubbed her back.“Shhhh.It’s alright.He can’t hurt us or anyone else ever again.”

Finally, she pushed away.“I know.I’m fine…really.”

“I’ll call the police, then I’ll check on my men.It looks like he set off some sort of smoke bomb in the hall.Don’t open the door for anyone.I’ll answer it when the police get here.”

“Okay.”

“When they get here, they’ll need to find Officer Donnelly.He was the last one here and,” he jutted his chin at Marco.“He probably took his shirt and hat, so I would open the door without question.Hopefully, he didn’t kill him, too.”

He went to get his phone.A few minutes later, he hung up.“They’re on their way.I told them about the officer.They’ll be looking for him, too.”

“I hope he’s all right.”I hope I’ll be all right.I just killed a man.

Chase walkedout into the hall.Smoke lingered in the air, causing him to cough.He saw Josh sitting up and shaking his head, likely to clear it.The smoke was disorienting.

Zed was coming around and trying to stand, but not having much success.

Chase went to help him and was relieved when both men were up again.“Come into the apartment where you can get fresh air.We’ll open the unbroken windows and get this,” he waved his hand through the smoke.“Out of here.”